CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) central office has directed the Cebu provincial government to submit all records of foreign travel authorities (FTAs) granted to local chief executives and officials in the province, for investigation.
This was confirmed by Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces after the Office of the Governor received a formal communication from the DILG earlier this week, ordering them to turn over all travel documents issued from November 1 to November 10.
“We just received an order from the national office of the DILG to submit all the travel orders that were given to all local chief executives for an investigation and other purposes,” Empaces emphasized.
He said that the Capitol immediately complied with the directive, with staff from the Office of the Governor preparing and submitting the required documents before noon.
The DILG’s order covers the foreign trips of Catmon Mayor Avis Monleon, Compostela Mayor Felijur Quiño, Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco, Pilar Mayor Manuel Santiago, Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., Tudela Mayor Greman Solante, and Provincial Board Member Andrei Duterte.
Previous reports from The Freeman revealed that these officials had filed for FTA in September, of which Governor Pamela Baricuatro subsequently approved.
Their travel requests were reportedly for personal reasons but their trips coincided with the onslaught of Typhoon Tino and the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu, prompting a state of calamity declaration across the province.
Under the DILG’s latest Memorandum Circular on the use of the FTA Online System Application, all local government officials must secure permission from the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG)—currently Jonvic Remulla—before traveling abroad, regardless of whether the trip is for official or personal purposes.
The circular cited that, during periods of emergency or calamity, the SILG or his authorized representative must personally approve all foreign travel requests.
Section 4.3 of the memorandum explicitly states that local officials are barred from leaving the country during emergencies unless cleared by the national office.
“SILG/USLG to approve and sign action documents, relative to request for travel authorities of the specified LGU officials and employees…upon recommendation of the Bureau of Local Government Supervision,” the memo reads.
The memorandum cites Executive Order No. 77, series of 2019, which mandates that the SILG approve all official foreign travels of local government personnel and also covers unofficial trips such as vacations, medical purposes, or family events.
The foreign travels controversy drew public outrage, especially since many of the officials involved come from northern Cebu, the region hardest hit by Typhoon Tino.
Municipalities such as Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, and San Francisco, all part of Cebu’s 5th District, suffered extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.
Amid the growing criticism, netizens also questioned the whereabouts of 5th District Representative Duke Frasco, whose wife, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, confirmed she was in London leading the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM) on November 4.
Secretary Frasco explained that her trip was an official engagement, representing the Philippines in a major tourism event.
Still, the Frasco family drew backlash online for being abroad while their hometown of Liloan reeled from destruction.
Moreover, among the mayors who had left the country, only the Compostela mayor publicly addressed the issue.
He confirmed that he had traveled abroad but decided to cut his trip short after learning of the devastation in his municipality.
The mayor clarified that his travel to London was for personal reasons and that he had secured approval from the provincial government before leaving.
As of press time, the DILG Central Office has not disclosed yet any information for the purpose of the investigation.
| Written by Avie Villa/RAE
